PRESS RELEASE – The Confederation of North, Central America and Caribbean Association Football (CONCACAF) announced today that Grenada will host the 2016 CONCACAF Under-17 Women’s Championship, which has been scheduled for March of next year.

The Caribbean island nation is the site for the Under-17 Women’s Championship Grenada 2016, to be played from March 3-13, 2016. The tournament will crown the Confederation’s champion at this level, and qualify three teams to the FIFA U-17 Women’s World Cup to be played in Jordan next September.

“We are extremely pleased to award next year’s Women’s Under-17 Championship to Grenada, in the heart of the Eastern Caribbean,” said CONCACAF President Jeffrey Webb. “Hosting this Championship marks a milestone for sport in Grenada, and proves the Confederation’s eagerness to reward those Member Associations who are willing to assume important responsibilities within the region.”

The Under-17 Women’s Championship Grenada 2016 will include eight teams, three from the Caribbean Football Union (CFU), two from the Central American Football Union (UNCAF) and three from North America.

Canada, Mexico and the United States are automatically qualified from North America, while the qualifying processes in CFU and UNCAF will take place in coming months. As host country, Grenada is automatically qualified as one of the three representatives of CFU.

“The decision of the CONCACAF Executive Committee to award Grenada such a prestigious tournament is a major milestone, and we appreciate the confidence shown in our association. The staging of such an event will require all stakeholders to work together to make the event a major success,” said Grenada Football Association President Cheney Joseph. “This is the first time that Grenada will be hosting a tournament of this magnitude, and we are very thankful for this opportunity. Grenada stands ready to host the best of the federations’ under-17 girls and we do hope to make their time here a very memorable one.”

“Grenada is definitely supportive of CONCACAF and the promotion and development of women’s football in the region,” said Grenada Minister of Sport Emmelin Pierre. “We are excited and grateful for this tremendous opportunity to host a women’s final and will work closely with the GFA to be a great host.”

The date of the official draw for the CONCACAF Under-17 Women’s Championship Grenada 2016 will be announced later this year. At the draw, the eight qualified Participating Member Associations will be divided in two groups of four.

After the group stage, the winner and second-place team from each group will qualify to the semi –finals. The winner of each semifinal match advances to the final, and also directly to the FIFA U-17 Women’s World Cup Jordan 2016. The two losing semifinalists will reach the third-place match, from which the winner will also advance to the World Cup.

Mexico is the defending champion of the CONCACAF Under-17 Women’s Championship, having won the title in Jamaica in November 2013.

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